Silicone-based simulation models for peripheral nerve microsurgery

Background

There is a need for a peripheral nerve model on which surgeons-in-training can simulate the repair of nerve injuries at their own pace. Although practicing on animal models/cadavers is considered the “gold standard” of microsurgical training, the proposed model aims to provide a platform for improving the technical skills of surgical trainees prior to their practice on cadaver/animal models. In addition, this model has the potential to serve as a standardized test medium for assessing the skill sets of surgeons.

Optimal control strategy of SEIR endemic model with continuous age‐structure in the exposed and infectious classes

In this paper, we consider an endemic Susceptible‐Exposed‐Infectious‐Recovered model with continuous age‐structure for exposed and infectious classes. This work is appropriate for those infectious diseases that have exposed period such as tuberculosis and herpes virus infection. Key result is the existence of an optimal control problem. To control the spread of the disease, we use an objective functional with a suitable control and present an optimal control problem. Finally, we present some simulations that support our theoretical findings and show the effectiveness of the model.     

The prevalence of childhood psychopathology in Turkey: a cross-sectional multicenter nationwide study (EPICPAT-T)

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of childhood psychopathologies in Turkey.

Method: A nation-wide, randomly selected, representative population of 5830 children (6–13 years-old) enrolled as a 2nd,3rd or 4th grade student in 30 cities were evaluated for presence of a psychiatric or mental disorder by a Sociodemographic Form, Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School Age Children-Present and Lifetime Version (K-SADS-PL), and DSM-IV-Based Screening Scale for Disruptive Behavior Disorders in Children and Adolescents scales. Impairment criterion was assessed via a 3 point-Likert scale by the parent and the teacher independently.

Results: Overall prevalence of any psychopathology was 37.6% without impairment criterion, and 17.1% with impairment criterion. Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder was the most frequent diagnosis, followed by anxiety (19.5% and 16.7% without impairment, 12.4% and 5.3% with impairment, respectively). Lower education level and presence of a physical or psychiatric problem of the parents were independent predictors of any psychopathology of the offspring.

Conclusion: This is the largest and most comprehensive epidemiological study to determine the prevalence of psychopathologies in children and adolescents in Turkey. Our results partly higher than, and partly comparable to previous national and international studies. It also contributes to the literature by determining the independent predictors of psychopathologies in this age group.     

Correlation of neutrophil/lymphocyte and platelet/lymphocyte ratio with visual acuity and macular thickness in age-related macular degeneration

AIM: To investigate the place of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) in the diagnosis of and prognosis for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). METHODS: One hundred AMD patients and 100 healthy controls were included in the study. Blood samples were obtained from the venous blood, which is used for routine analysis, and these samples were subjected to complete blood count. NLR was defined as the neutrophil count divided by the number of lymphocytes, and PLR was defined as the platelet count divided by the number of lymphocytes. RESULTS: No statistically significant difference was observed between the two groups under consideration in terms of demographic features (P>0.05). The average NLR in the patient group was found to be significantly higher than that in the healthy control group (P<0.05). The average PLR was significantly higher in the patient group as compared to the control group (P<0.05). As best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) increased, both NLR and PLR decreased (significant negative correlations at 49.8% and 63.0%, respectively), whereas as central macular thickness (CMT) increased, both NLR and PLR increased (significant positive correlations at 59.3% and 70.0%, respectively). CONCLUSION: NLR and PLR levels are higher among neovascular AMD patients as compared to healthy control group. NLR and PLR levels were found to be inversely proportional to BCVA and directly proportional to CMT.     

Pathophysiology underlying drooling in Parkinson’s disease: oropharyngeal bradykinesia

We aimed to investigate the association between drooling and possible etiological factors in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and to determine its effect on the quality of life. Demographic data of the 63 patients with idiopathic PD were recorded. Radboud Oral Motor Inventory for Parkinson’s disease (ROMP) test was administered to all patients to evaluate speech, swallowing functions, and saliva control. The freezing of gait questionnaire (FOGQ) was used to evaluate gait and freezing of gait. Dynamic Parkinson gait scale (DYPAGS) was administered for the objective quantification of PD gait features. Disease severity was assessed by UPDRS and modified Hoehn & Yahr Scale. PD specific health-related quality was evaluated by PDQ-39 questionnaire. Drooling was only significantly correlated to UPDRS score; a stronger association was found between drooling and UPDRS 3 motor score; and a more significant association was determined between drooling and the bradykinesia questions of the motor part of UPDRS 3. Interestingly, no significant association was found between sialorrhea score and PDQ-39 score. Based on the results of this study, we concluded that oropharyngeal bradykinesia may be responsible for drooling in PD. In contrast to a general expectation, we did not find any adverse impact of drooling on the quality of life.     

Effect of pentylenetetrazole and sound stimulation induced single and repeated convulsive seizures on the MDA, GSH and NO levels, and SOD activities in rat liver and kidney tissues

Objectives

The aim of our study was to evaluate the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the levels of glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), and nitric oxide (NO) in liver and kidney tissues in a rat model of convulsive seizure induced by single and repeated doses of pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) and sound stimulation with key ringing.

Materials and methods

Male Wistar adult rats (n = 48), were used in the experiment. The animals were divided into six groups: (1) Single Seizure Control Group (SS-Control; n = 8), (2) Repeated Seizures Control Group (RS-Control; n = 8), (3) PTZ induced Single Seizure Group (SS-PTZ Group; n = 8), (4) PTZ induced Repeated Seizures Group (RS- PTZ Group; n = 8), (5) Key-Ringing Induced Single Seizure Group (SS-KEY Group; n = 8), (6) Key-Ringing Induced Repeated Seizures Group (RS-KEY Group; n = 8). Following injections rats were observed for seizure activity for 30 min. Animals were sacrificed 24 h after induced seizure (single or last seizure) or saline administration. MDA, NO, GSH levels and SOD activities were determined in liver and kidney tissues.

Results

There was no significant difference between SS-Control and RS-Control groups, SS-PTZ and SS-KEY groups, and RS-PTZ and RS-KEY groups (p > 0.05) in none of the examined 4 parameters in liver and kidney tissues.The liver and kidney levels of MDA and NO in SS-PTZ group were found to be significantly higher than the SS-Control group (p < 0.05). In SS-KEY group, the liver and kidney levels of MDA and NO were found to be significantly higher and GSH levels were significantly lower than the SS-Control group (p < 0.05).While liver and kidney levels of MDA in RS-PTZ group and RS-KEY group were found to be significantly higher than the RS-Control group (p < 0.05), liver and kidney GSH levels were significantly lower (p < 0.05). The liver levels of NO in RS-PTZ group and RS-KEY group were found to be significantly higher than the RS-Control group (p < 0.05). Kidney SOD activities in RS-PTZ group and RS-KEY group were found to be significantly lower than the RS-Control group (p < 0.05).When RS-PTZ group is compared with the SS-PTZ group, the liver SOD activity and kidney NO level were found to be significantly lower in the RS-PTZ group (p < 0.05).While the liver NO level and GSH level in RS-KEY group were significantly higher than the SS-KEY group, SOD activity was significantly lower in the RS-KEY group (p < 0.05). When RS-KEY group was compared with SS-KEY group, the kidney NO level and SOD activity were found to be significantly lower in the RS-KEY group (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

In conclusion, key-ringing or PTZ induced single and repeated seizures result in increased oxidative damage and lipid peroxidation, and decreased antioxidant defense mechanisms.     

The isolation and characterization of 10 dinucleotide microsatellite markers from enriched <Emphasis Type=Italic>Channa argus</Emphasis> genomic library

Twelve polymorphic microsatellite loci were isolated and characterized for one subspecies of the Xantus’s murrelet (Synthliboramphus hypoleucus scrippsi), a threatened seabird. Using blood samples obtained from 40 birds captured at Santa Barbara Island, California, in April–May 1996, 3–14 alleles per locus were detected, and expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.25 to 0.90. Genotype frequencies showed no departures from Hardy–Weinberg expectations. Linkage is suspected in one pair of loci.     

Effects of ebselen versus nimodipine on cerebral vasospasm subsequent to experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage in rats

We investigated the effect of ebselen relative to nimodipine in an animal model of subarachnoid hemorrhage. Thirty Wistar albino rats were divided into 5 groups: G1, no intervention; G2, sham surgery without subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH); G3, SAH only; G4, SAH plus nimodipine treatment; G5, SAH plus ebselen treatment. For G2 animals, physiological saline (0.9% NaCl) was injected into the cisterna magna. For G3, G4 and G5 animals, SAH was induced by injecting autologous non-heparinized blood into the cisterna magna. One hour after injection, G4 animals received nimodipine at 6-hour intervals and G5 animals received ebselen twice a day for 48 hours. After treatment, brain tissue and blood samples were taken for biochemical and histopathological examination. Mean malonyldialdehyde concentration was significantly higher in G3 than in G1 (p < 0.0001), G2 (p = 0.01), G4 (p = 0.002) and G5 (p = 0.014), and significantly higher in G5 than in G1 (p = 0.013). Mean superoxide dismutase activity was significantly lower in G4 than in both G1 (p = 0.025) and G2 (p = 0.02). Mean wall thickness was significantly greater in G3 than in G1 (p < 0.0001), G2 (p = 0.01), G4 (p < 0.0001) and G5 (p < 0.0001). Mean wall thickness was also significantly greater in both G1 and G2 than in G4 (p < 0.0014 and p < 0.0001) and G5 (p < 0.0001 and p < 0.0001). Mean luminal diameter of the basilar artery was significantly smaller in G3 than in G2 (p = 0.02), G4 (p < 0.018) and G5 (p < 0.001). Our results confirm that ebselen may have neuroprotective effects by acting to prevent vasospasm.     

Recurrent alien hand syndrome in a multiple sclerosis case

Alien hand syndrome is the strange feeling of one's hand behaving independently. This syndrome has rarely been reported in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Herein, we present a 34-year-old female MS patient who had recurrent symptoms of alien hand syndrome that were evaluated as MS attacks based on cranial magnetic resonance imaging that showed demyelinating lesions in the corpus callosum. Alien hand syndrome is classified according to the location of the lesion and the presenting symptoms. As such, our patient can best be classified as a callosal alien hand case.